Corona Devotionals

The Lord knew  what was happening   (when we had no idea what was happening). The Lord knows the purpose of what we face today (even as we beg Him to remove us from it). The Lord is always at work  and in control: (yesterday...today...and He will still be at work in our lives and in control of them tomorrow). So...why the hardships?  Why the trials?  Why the diseases and handicaps and suffering? So...why the injustice and unfairness and persecution ?   Why all of the lies and trickery and false-gods of this world? Why is life (so often) an uphill battle?   Are we asking that today? Did we ask it yesterday?   Let's turn to the Bible so that we do not have to ask it tomorrow. Psalm 129:1-8 From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.   Let all Israel repeat this: ( 2)  From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,  but they have never defeated me.  ( 3)  My back is covered with cuts, ...

It's interesting, we don't have to be taught how to discourage someone...when we are hurt or jealous or even feeling insecure: the digs are dished, and the gossip just gushes.  We get defensive, and the verbal daggers fly almost involuntarily. And we've been on the receiving end of those jabs too.  When someone lashes out (verbally, online, etc) it's like a lead-weight is tied to our heart, and the discouragement is real.  Sticks and stones can break our bones, and words will also  hurt us.   It's easy to discourage someone, and (we all know), it's easy to be discouraged. But what if... We studied some instructions on how to be an encourager. What if we took a shot at seeking and embodying  justice  today?   Let's  establish fairness  in our affairs today.   How about we react and align with  righteousness  today.   What if we praised the Lord for his  mighty, just, fair, and righteous ...

Ahh, the white stone : I love it even before I can know it. ~~~ Do you like to be surprised when it comes to gifts...or are you a peeker?   I'll take a box wrapped up tightly without any clues... anyday.   When it comes to gifts, I don't want a hint, I won't take a peek, and I don't want it early.  I will happily and willfully wait until it's time , and then I love the joy and excitement of unwrapping an unknown gift. Not my husband, though:  He's a peeker .  He likes hints.  He likes early gifts, and he is uncanny at "happening upon" or "walking in" on unwrapped presents that are for him.   I'd rather not  know, but he would rather know... when it comes to gifts. Today I read about a gift that we have not yet received, and that we know nothing about , but I already know that I love it.  I love the white stone --whatever it is!  But, no peeking , and we can't receive it yet. ~~~ Are we living in the city where Satan has his thr...

While at the zoo the other day, we were able to catch a close-up glimpse of a beautiful bald eagle. Bold and strong and majestic and fearsome, it stood only about ten feet from us. That gave me the close range view of his strong body, sharp beak, and feathers. Those feathers : there seemed to be just enough and in all the right places. I was not aware of an eagle's perfect alignment and patterning of feathers before. And I don't mean color pattern...I mean, every feather seemed to be in perfect position: layered and arranged in precise symmetry and placement. One row on top of the next, perfectly placed and fitted to make flight possible, effective, and intentional. Sometimes we can forget the intimate, specific, absolutely-precise detail that our Creator has gone-to in order to create an eagle as an eagle. And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” (21) So God created the great creatures of t...